For the meanings of the initials in brackets at the end of many of the entries, click here.

Kannapolis, NC(1941) No MPAA Rating; Director: H. Lee Waters. This film is listed in the National Film Registry of the U.S. Library of Congress as a "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" film.

Karate Kid (1984) MPAA Rating: PG; Director: John G. Avildsen. This film has much to say about the importance of training and working hard, step by step, to attain a goal. However, it is unnecessarily violent and presents an exaggerated picture of violence among teenagers. This film should have been given an MPAA rating of R for portraying violence among teenagers. For example, one scene shows a teenager on the ground being kicked viciously in the ribs by another teenager, age 15 or 16. Blows like this could easily break ribs, causing a lung puncture, an often fatal injury. This type of blow is treated in the film as routine and the danger of it is not shown. This film has been recommended to us by teachers for its strengths in other areas which in their minds more than makes up for the violence. We respectfully disagree. However, if teachers use this film or parents show it to children, they should warn them that the violence is unrealistic and potentially fatal. [PD](JAF)

Kelley's Heroes (1970) MPAA Rating: PG; Director: Brian G. Hutton. We could find no content in the film suitable for teaching purposes. For films on the U.S. experience in the Second World War, see the United States History and Culture section of the Subject Matter Index. [ITO](JAF)

The Keys to the House (Le Chiavi di Casa)(2004) MPAA Rating: PG; Director: Gianni Amelio This film is wise from both emotional and intellectual perspectives. The story is a compelling tale about a father's dawning love for his disabled son. The movie is a little long for kids and the subject matter is one that relates to concerns of adults. It is a must see for anyone over 25. One line spoken by Nicole is devastating and true for most and was worth the entire film. Audiences will remember it for years. [PD] ( JAF & DEF, 2009)

The Kids Are All Right(2010) MPAA Rating: R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some teen drug and alcohol use; Director: Lisa Cholodenko. This is a film about a loving lesbian family in which the two children were each born from one of their moms with sperm from the same sperm donor. The plot is excellent and the insights contain positive lessons, which are quite predictable. Our only problem with the movie are the mildly explicit sex scenes that were simply unnecessary and obviously included just to sell the movie. [LI](JAF)

Khartoum (1966) No MPAA Rating; Director: Basil Dearden. Some historians contend that this film is not historically accurate. See the sections on this movie in History Goes to the Movies and Past Imperfect. [NA]

The Kid Stays in the Picture(2002) MPAA Rating: R for language and some brief violent and sexual images; Directors: Nanette Burstein and Brett Morgen. See the entry for this film in Reading in the Reel World: Teaching Documentaries and Other Nonfiction Texts by John Golden, National Council of Teachers of English, 2006. (JAF & DEF)

Killer of Sheep(1977) No MPAA Rating; Director: Charles Burnett. This film is listed in the National Film Registry of the U.S. Library of Congress as a "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" film.

The Killing Fields(1984) MPAA Rating: R; Director: Roland Joffe. This is an excellent film about the Cambodian genocide at the hands of the Kmehr Rouge. It is very difficult to watch and may be upsetting for children. It has been suggested by a teacher for grades: 11 or 12. See the section on this movie in History Goes to the Movies. [LI](JAF)

King: A Filmed Record...Montgomery to Memphis(1970) No MPAA Rating; Directors: Sidney Lumet and Joseph L. Mankiewicz. This film is listed in the National Film Registry of the U.S. Library of Congress as a "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" film.

King of California(2007) MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some strong language, mature
thematic elements and brief drug references; Director: Mike
Cahill. This is a movie about an insane father who is released from a mental institution and decides to look for buried Spanish treasure underneath a Costco store. During his absence, his 17 year old daughter has kept out of foster homes by lying to the authorities and supporting herself by working double shifts at McDonald's. There isn't much education here. [ITO](JAF & DEF, 2008)

King of the Corner(2004) MPAA Rating: R for some language and sexual references; Director: Peter Riegert. This comedy deals with the concerns of middle age. In many respects it is thoughtful and poignant. We don't think it would be interesting to most children. [NA](JAF)

The Kingdom of Heaven (2005) MPAA: Rated R for strong violence and epic warfare; Director: Ridley Scott. This movie tells of an epic battle for the city of Jerusalem when it was lost by corrupted Crusaders to resurgent Moslem armies. There is a lot of surface moralizing in the film which is interesting but only one tough decision is made based on it. The moral hero of the film does not think twice about jumping into bed with another man's wife but will not cooperate with her to prevent the same man from becoming king to prevent a war because of his "morals." There is violence galore. [NR](JAF)

King of the Hill(1993) MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic elements; Director: Steven Soderbergh. See the section on this movie in History Goes to the Movies. A teacher who is an expert at using film in the classroom has developed a way to use scenes from this movie for certain activities. See Reading in the Dark, by John Golden, 2001, National Council of Teachers of English.

King Kong(1933) No MPAA Rating; Directors: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack. This film is ranked #43 on the American Film Institute's List of the 100 Greatest American Movies of All Time (2006). This film is listed in the National Film Registry of the U.S. Library of Congress as a "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" film.

The Kiss(1896) No MPAA Rating; Director: William Heise. This film is listed in the National Film Registry of the U.S. Library of Congress as a "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" film.

Kiss Me Deadly(1955) No MPAA Rating; Director: Robert Aldrich. This film is listed in the National Film Registry of the U.S. Library of Congress as a "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" film.

Koyaanisqatsi (1982) No MPAA Rating; Director: Godfrey Reggio. This film is listed in the National Film Registry of the U.S. Library of Congress as a "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" film. See the entry for this film in Reading in the Reel World: Teaching Documentaries and Other Nonfiction Texts by John Golden, National Council of Teachers of English, 2006. (JAF & DEF)

K-Pax(2001) MPAA Rating: PG-13 Director: Kevin Spacey,. This is a Kevin Spacey acting tour de force. It's a wonderful movie but we can't find a way to make it educational. If someone has any ideas, please tell us. [ITO](JAF, 2015)